Australia’s Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski (centre), UNICEF Representative in Vietnam Rana Flowers (left), and Deputy Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology Duong Thi Hong (right) stand next to one of the five refrigerated trucks given to Vietnam through Australia’s partnership with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health. (Photo courtesy of the Australian Embassy in Vietnam)The delivery was made through an agreement with UNICEF and in partnership withthe Vietnamese Ministry of Health.
Three million adult Pfizer vaccine doses arrived in September in Hanoi and HoChi Minh City. A further 1.2 million pediatric doses arrived on October 24 inHanoi.
Australia has now shared more than 26 million COVID-19 vaccine doses with Vietnam.
The five refrigerated trucks will be stationed at the National Institute ofHygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) in Hanoi, Pasteur Institute in HCM City,Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang and the Central Highlands Institute of Hygieneand Epidemiology in Dak Lak.
These vehicles are essential to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and routineimmunisation programme as they ensure that vaccines are transported efficientlyand safely across the country.
Australia’s comprehensive package, which supports Vietnam’s COVID-19 control,provides healthcare worker training, communications campaigns and outreachsessions to remote and hard-to-reach areas so that the most vulnerable populationsare not left behind.
Australian Ambassador Goledzinowski holds up a box of refrigerated PfizerCOVID-19 vaccines, delivered to Hanoi through Australia and UNICEF’spartnership.
Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski welcomed the recentdeliveries, highlighting Australia’s ongoing support for Vietnam’s COVID-19response.
He said: “Australia has been proud to partner with Vietnam since 2021 insupport of the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
“It’s great to see these recent deliveries – the vaccine doses will help boostthe national COVID-19 vaccine campaign, and the trucks will support the vaccinerollout and contribute to broader health system strengthening efforts.”
Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam, said: “From the outset of thepandemic, UNICEF has prioritised ensuring safe vaccine storage andtransportation, particularly to the harder-to-reach areas of Vietnam.
“The trucks and the additional vaccines, particularly for children, are mostwelcome and timely and contribute greatly to the ongoing efforts to keep Vietnamsafe from the COVID-19 outbreaks.
“UNICEF will continue to support Vietnam to ensure an adequate supply ofvaccines, vaccination equipment and other medical equipment to respond to thefight against the pandemic and to ensure catch-up and continuity of routinevaccines for children.”/.
VNA
